Pridemore says he's not blacklisting reporters

Superintendent candidate responds to report

A candidate for Wisconsin schools superintendent says he is not blacklisting five reporters in Wisconsin, despite a memo from a former staffer that said he would not grant interviews with those on the list.

Don Pridemore said Monday that the staff member who put together the December memo misunderstood a conversation about the reporters. Pridemore said his intention was to deal directly with those reporters and not allow staff members to speak on his behalf.

But the staff member said Pridemore told him directly to blacklist those five reporters. Kyle Maichle said Pridemore wanted to control which reporters the campaign would give access to.

Pridemore is a Republican state representative seeking the nonpartisan school superintendent job. He is running against incumbent Tony Evers.

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